DRINKWINE: Mentored Youth Hunting Program showing its benefits

Saturday, September 29, 2012

By Terry DrinkwineJournal Register Newspapers

Nine year old Sophie Allen of Royal Oak bagged her first buck an hour after entering her dad’s blind on a farm in Huron County, Saturday, September 22, 2012, a date she’ll remember for a long time to come. Actually this wasn’t Sophie’s first time in a blind with dad, she’s been sitting, watching and waiting for some time, but this time, it was her turn to hunt.

Thanks to the Mentored Youth Hunting Program allowing kids 9 and younger to hunt with a mentor who is at least 21 years of age with experience and possess a valid hunting license, Sophie shot a 7 point buck and added to her list of accomplishments which include bagging a turkey last April.

The mentor license is a “package” license which allows hunting for waterfowl, small game, turkey (spring and fall) and deer (two tags); trap furbearers and fish for all species. The license costs $7.50.

There are restrictions however: the youth hunter must be within arm’s reach of the adult and any actions by the youth will be the responsibility of the adult. Only two hunting devices are allowed (gun, crossbow or bow) in the field by the adult while mentoring and any device used by the youth must be sized appropriately to fit the youth hunter.

Lonnie Allen, an insurance agent in Lake Orion and Sophie’s dad, is an avid outdoorsman and a great father. He’s managed to transfer his love for hunting and fishing to his three daughters, Sophie, Sage and Sami; Sophie being the oldest at nine.

When Sophie told me about her successful hunt, her eyes beamed with pride and her smile gave insight to her fearless character and determination to do it again. Though only nine, she related the day’s events like an “old salt” even correcting her dad about minor points. She described how she sat quietly in the ground blind next to her dad watching several deer come into view. Two bucks were in the group along with a fawn and doe and the 7 point presented the best opportunity. So at about 45 yards, she took the shot and fifty yards away, they found the buck.

As the program states, the shooting device must fit the youth hunter, and for a nine year old, the biggest obstacle was finding a gun Sophie could shoulder properly, aim and absorb the recoil of. To test her ability to handle the recoil, Lonnie found the lightest target loads of 20 gauge shells he could and let her shoot a few through a Mossberg Youth Model shotgun. Sophie took to it immediately and shot almost the entire box without a flinch.

Properly fitting the gun was another matter. There was a problem of her being able to see through the scope and keep her cheek resting on the stock at the same time. So Lonnie built a riser and fit it to the stock allowing Sophie to rest her chin on the stock and look through the scope comfortably at the same time as she pulled the trigger.

Lonnie figured it right and that didn’t come by accident. His preparation and attention to detail to make sure Sophie’s experience was one of accomplishment not frustration due to poor fitting equipment paid off. The first thing he did was to determine if Sophie had a dominant eye. She did; she was left eye dominant. So Sophie being right handed learned to shoot left handed, and the results speak for themselves.

Everything Lonnie did for Sophie was designed to give her a great experience. Nothing was left to chance, from the load she shot to the shotgun she shot it through to the sighting-in of the shotgun, which was dead on at 50 yards. The 7 point buck was dropped at about 45 yards with a perfect shot.

Sophie is just one of many kids who benefit from the Mentor program. Of course, some would argue that the real benefit goes to the parent who mentors. There is no greater feeling of accomplishment than seeing your son or daughter demonstrate what you’ve taught them and gave them to carry with them as they grow up. Sophie put a proud grin on her dad’s face and I swear I saw mist in his eyes as he listened to her recount the hunt.

Now, the next lesson is to teach her to share her bounty….. I like the liver and chops.

On another note, woodcock are in and grouse are more plentiful than I predicted. It’s all good. See you in the field.